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For someone with special needs, it may be challenging for them to take regular care of their teeth. Dental hygiene is very important for someone’s wellbeing and there are many areas of the country that have staff who are experienced in treating patients with disabilities and special needs, making sure the trip to the dentist is as calm and stress-free as possible.

Attending the dentist can be frightening to many people, however there are a few ways to make the process a little easier…

Caudwell Children, the national charity that provides practical and emotional support to disabled children and their families, is giving wannabe Premier League bosses the chance to experience the thrill of the dugout after creating its first ever private Fantasy Football League.

The competition, which sees participants selecting imaginary teams from the players currently playing in the Premier League, awards points according to the actual performance of their players.

The statistics, supplied by OPTA, the world’s leading live detailed sports data provider, allows each players performance to be scrutinised in forensic detail to establish the best players and teams throughout the season.

Muggi is an innovative new product which enables hot and cold drinks to be carried safely in any environment.

This unique tray enables up to four mugs to be carried safely in one hand, leaving the other hand free to support the user. Muggi also fits on to walking frames and can be conveniently placed on the lap of wheelchair users.

We all value our independence, without it we can feel defeated, depressed and at a loss.

It is therefore imperative that people living with disabilities have as much encouragement and aid to help maintain a healthy independent lifestyle whether that is something as simple as opening packaging, putting socks on or travelling and engaging in social activities whilst creating a sense of independence.We offer gadgets that allow an individual living with a disability to keep their independence doing day-to-day tasks inside and outside their home.

Today I have a wedding of one of my oldest friends, but I woke up in chronic abdominal pain and with a debilitating UTI. I should just stay in bed, but last year I missed three really good friends’ weddings because I was in the hospital, so there is no way I am missing out on this one!

I am feeling really anxious about it, though. On days when I should just be in bed, even getting up and getting dressed with a chronic illness is a mission, let alone getting up, getting dressed, doing makeup, driving an hour, putting up a tent and then attending a wedding! The joy of having a tent near the wedding is because I can sneak off and rest through chunks of the afternoon. There’s no way I could do it without that.

Modern fittings make designing stylish and accessible bathrooms easier than ever before.

Providing bathrooms that are accessible and appealing to both able and less able is a design challenge. Less able does not just mean those who are registered disabled where specific facilities such as bath hoists may be needed but the many who suffer less serious problems that can make life difficult. Although it is true to say that accessible bathrooms can be ugly, this does not have to be the case. Choosing the right, well designed fittings can make life easy for less able users without spoiling the visual appeal of the room or limiting its use.

"I need travel and adventure so damn much. I need it for my happiness, my well-being and my soul. I feel stuck and miserable without this" - my festival experience living with a chronic illness.

I spent the ages of 16-24 living and working abroad as much as possible, as well as driving around the UK and living in my van, too. As a kid we were always on adventures, hitching around other countries or heading to camps and communities. For the last five years, due to my health, I’ve only lived in Bristol. I have hardly left the city. I’ve grieved, and still do grieve, this every single day.

It’s all change at Wren Park, a service for people with an acquired brain injury, with five of the service’s long-standing tenants having developed their independent living skills to the point where they are now able to move out into their own homes in the community.

Heather Jupp, who currently leads the team at this specialist Surrey rehabilitation service, says: “Matthew, Michael, James, Alison and Reuben have all lived at Wren Park for quite a few years so we’re going to miss them very much, but for every one of them it’s a fantastic success to be able to reclaim their independence in this way.”

A saucepan to help elderly people with arthritis keep their independence has been designed by a student who was inspired by her grandparents.

Emma Bucknell, a BA (Hons) Product Design student at Nottingham Trent University, has designed the saucepan to make cooking more comfortable for people who have arthritis in their fingers, hands and wrists.

It has been made with a plastic handle on one side so users can slide their hand through it, meaning the saucepan can be lifted using the strength in the arm rather than in the hand.

The design of the handle aims to reduce the weight and pressure that is put on people’s fingers and hands when they lift saucepans, which traditionally have straight handles.

UK autism expert and neuroscientist, Dr Lorene Amet conducted a pilot evaluation to determine the effects of the Alpha-Stim Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) device on children with autism...

Dr Amet comments, “This is a small scale evaluation, but it has been very beneficial to reduce issues related to anxiety, sleep and pain. There was a diminution of restricted, repetitive, self-stimulatory behaviours: hand flapping and twirling both in frequency and intensity. The effects of CES were that children improved physically, and became more engaged.”

Whether you are inspired by the World Para Athletic Championships, a lapsed athlete or just looking to get fit, the warm summer months are a perfect time to get into, or back into, sports. For those with an injury, leading mobility and disability retailer, The Unlimited Company has a list of top tips to help you stay safe.

UWE student, blind for 12 years, takes driving lessons with Young Driver at Cribbs Causeway

Like many 19-year olds, Abdul-Azeez Balogun likes being behind the wheel of a car.

But, surprisingly, Abdul is completely blind in both eyes.

His dream of controlling a car is being realised thanks to Young Driver, which has been teaching Abdul at its Cribbs Causeway venue in Bristol.

Young Driver offers driving lessons to anyone aged 10 and over – including those with disabilities, which may mean they will never be able to legally drive on the roads. Because Young Driver lessons take place on private property, normal restrictions do not apply.

Together Trust residential children’s home Pocket Nook has been awarded ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted following a recent inspection. The Bolton home, accredited by the National Autistic Society, provides residential care for up to five young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, a physical disability or a learning disability.

Pocket Nook is run by the Together Trust, a leading North West charity which along with specialist education, helps support people with disabilities, learning difficulties and complex health needs through fostering, community and residential care and autism support.

Care Management Group (CMG), a leading provider of residential care, supported living services and domiciliary care for people with learning disabilities in England, has hosted a unique Supportive Therapies event which is designed specifically for people living with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). The aim of the day is to stimulate interest, broaden opportunities and enhance social and emotional wellbeing.

The 15 National Parks across the UK strive to create a more inclusive society for all and from 24th-30th July, they are celebrating National Parks Week with a focus on “Bringing people together”. In support of this, NRS Healthcare have released an Accessibility Guide to the UK’s National Parks which is free to download.

If you’re living with mental health issues or a physical disability, visiting new places can often hold a lot of uncertainty and sometimes be an anxious experience. However, NRS Healthcare recognise that getting out and about is hugely important if you are differently abled in order to remain active and independent.

Vulnerable people are being forced into situations against their will because care providers are not going through the proper processes, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found.

In a report published today, the Ombudsman highlights some of the very real concerns it has about the way some of the most vulnerable people in society are being treated when decisions are being made on behalf of people who lack mental capacity to choose how they are cared for.

Problems the Ombudsman sees include not carrying out - or delaying - assessments to determine whether someone has the capacity to make decisions for themselves, poor decision making when deciding on someone’s best interests, and not involving friends and families in the decision process.

The London Borough of Barnet has signed a contract with the PA Consulting Group-led Argenti Care Technology Partnership (Argenti) to deliver care technology services across the borough for up to five years from April 2017. Argenti provides innovative telecare services to support vulnerable people so that they can stay in their own homes longer, reducing pressure on social care and hospitals. The contract in Barnet will bring together the best of the private and public sector to achieve better outcomes for service users and will support the increasing integration of health and social care across the borough.

British Red Cross & Co-op take action on loneliness and launch nationwide services.

The British Red Cross has started rolling out brand new services to tackle loneliness and social isolation. It is calling for people across the UK to join its teams providing vital support for up to 12,500 adults of all ages.

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U Can 2 Magazine would like to thank the advertisers that appear in this publication for their support and wish them continued success.U Can 2 is an independent publication and has no affiliation with any other organisation. The views expressed in U Can 2 do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher E.A.L. and its employees. Similarly the efficacy of any products and services featured are the sole responsibility of the supplier/manufacturer.